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Utah National Guard member killed in Afghanistan

Utah Channel 3

ST. GEORGE – A 27-year-old Utah National Guard member from San Juan County was killed in Afghanistan Wednesday when a building he and his team were clearing exploded. The incident also left 11 others injured.

Gov. Gary Herbert confirmed Thursday during a press conference that a 12-member team of the Utah National Guard had been involved in an incident in a “booby-trapped” building that turned deadly for Aaron Butler, 27, of Monticello, Utah.

While the governor did not release any names of the soldiers involved, Butler was subsequently identified as the soldier who had been killed. His family released the following statement Thursday:

The Army values are: ‘Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless-Service, Honor, Integrity, Personal Courage’. Aaron Butler personified those values in everything he said and did. In a life that was all too brief, our dear son and brother made the ultimate sacrifice for his country. While we are heartbroken to become a Gold Star family, we honor Aaron’s service and sacrifice. Aaron was a strength to us, an inspiration to those around him, and a joy to have in our family.

Eight members of the National Guard team are from Utah, Herbert said, while three are from other states. Each suffered “various degrees of injury,” the governor said.

“I will be calling and contacting the families today that have been involved in this incident to let them know of our concern and our support and our condolences. Certainly, it’s a tragedy for them and a tragedy for all of us,” Herbert said.

According to the San Juan Record, Butler was a Special Forces Green Beret and graduated with honors from the qualification course in January 2016.

A press release from the National Guard said Butler’s team was in eastern Afghanistan and engaged in operations against ISIS groups in the region.

“My heart aches for the loss and sacrifice of our members and their families,” Maj. Gen. Jefferson Burton, adjutant general of the Utah National Guard, said Wednesday. “I know that what we do is dangerous and important work for our country’s defense, but this realization does little to console me during times of loss such as this.”

The San Jan County Commission also released a statement Thursday.

Yesterday, while on a mission in Afghanistan, Aaron Butler was killed by enemy forces.

Our hearts are broken. We are devastated. Our prayers and support are sent to the Butler family at this sad time.

We will remember Aaron as a man that gave his life so that we may continue to live in the land of the free. His selfless service will not go unremembered or unthanked because we will remember and show gratitude to his family.

We also send our prayers to the other members of Aaron’s unit that were wounded during the mission and wish them a speedy recovery.

May we never take our freedoms for granted or let a day go by without showing gratitude to the men and women who fight for our country.

Butler’s body is being flown to Dover, Maryland, and will eventually be released to the family.

Members of Utah’s Congressional delegation also expressed their condolences over social media.

Rep. Chris Stewart, R-Utah

Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah

Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah

My heart goes out to the Butler family on the loss of their son Aaron. I am very grateful for all our service men and women who put their lives on the line for our nation. I will pray for all our Utah families who have loved ones serving in Afghanistan today.

Email: mkessler@stgnews.com

Twitter: @MoriKessler

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